Product Description

Product Description

Marley is the definitive film about one of the most loved international icons of the 20th Century, Bob Marley. His music and message of love and redemption are known throughout the world and his story has finally been brought to life in this definitive work.

Acclaimed director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland, State of Play, Life in a Day) joined forces with the Marley family to direct the ultimate authorised documentary film on the life, legacy and global impact of one of the most influential musicians in history. Marley marks the first time ever that Bob’s family has authorised the use of their own private Bob Marley archives.

Bob Marley’s universal appeal, impact on music history and his role as a social and political prophet is both unique and unparalleled. His music and message transcend culture, language and creed and resonate around the world today as powerfully as when he was alive. Only a handful of musicians have ever achieved such an impact and Bob Marley, though his life was far too short, stands strongly among them.

“I think what’s great about the film is though there have been a lot of things done on Bob, I think this one will give people a more emotional connection to Bob’s life as a man – not just a reggae legend or a mythical figure, but his life as a man.” – Ziggy Marley

Bonus Features:- Around the World: Special feature on the relevance of Bob Marley's muisc today

From Amazon.co.uk

Bob Marley's musical (and cultural) shadow is so large that the man clearly needed an authoritative documentary portrait--and Marley steps in with all the right stuff to fill the role. Working with official rights to the music and access to Marley's family and friends, Oscar-winning documentarian Kevin Macdonald (One Day in September) creates a thorough account that hits the major points, not stinting on some of the less admirable aspects of Marley's life (including his brood of children fathered with women other than his patient wife, Rita, whose presence indicates just how much she puts Marley's legacy above his personal infidelities). Especially interesting is the sketch of Bob Marley's youth, as a mixed-race--and thus socially ostracized--kid from the village of Nine Mile who began to put together a reggae sound with a group of like-minded musicians in Jamaica in the late '50s and early '60s. That period comes to life, and the account of Marley's ascent, while familiar from such sagas, has its share of offbeat incidents. His death, at age 36 in 1981, does not dominate the movie, but Macdonald does a good job of getting that story laid out. In the meantime, the music and the concert footage are more than enough to justify the movie's existence, and Macdonald makes time to include thoughts about politics, ganja smoking, and Rastafarianism, too. If it's not the final word on Marley, it's an excellent start. --Robert Horton

Top Customer Reviews

It is hard to see how this documentary of the late,great, Bob Marley could ever be improved upon.Marley's admirers are fortunate in having the services of a director of the stature of Kevin Macdonald to record the life,thoughts and music of one of the most important cultural figures of the late 20th Century.Many film makers would have been overwhelmed by the scope of the project,but Macdonald,while deeply respectful,pays tribute to his subject from a standing position, looking him in the eye rather than from bended knees.

One of the strongest points of the film is it's well chosen interviews.Those you would expect are there,Rita Marley,Bunny Livingston and a clutch of Wailers,but also present and adding colour and flavour to the project are,Bob's Cousins,friends and lovers,even his first teacher,God knows how old she must be, but she talks well and even sings in a strong voice.

We see all of the defining moments of his life,his breakthrough to international acclaim,the assassination attempt,the Peace Concert (who could forget his calling Manley and Seaga on stage and forcing them to clasp hands despite their obvious reluctance ?) and the outpouring of grief mixed with celebratory pride in his life, at his laying to rest.

The music is very well chosen.Of course the hits are here,but so are little-known early songs.Music and visuals are carefuly blended to enhance our understanding of the man and his message.There is no question of an extended music video intended to promote a soundtrack album here.

Some may carp that the movie is too long,but a life of such importance demands a great deal of attention.Read more ›

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You may well wonder if you can justify putting a music documentary in the cinamas before dvd/blu-ray release. Well when it's this good,yes you can.After reading the warts 'n' all RITA MARLEY book "No woman,no cry",i did wonder if this movie would be as brutally honest about Bob,the negatives aswell as the positives. Certainly it shows mostly Bob as a good man,which of course he was,but it's not expecting you to think he was an angel,he didn't stick to just his wife,he liked his women and they liked him. This may've been skipped a little from Rita's book,but it gets to the point. The music is stunning,new tracks and old,some great footage and an interesting story well told. The interview with those that knew him are done with obvious love and affection for a true legend. From his upbringing to his adulthod,to his times with Rita to that shooting,his toe injury and of course his sad death. This explains why he is such a legend and why he will be missed,his music will live on,how could it not?

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Marley encapsulates the essence of Bob Marley. The music, the man and the legend.

The interviews are wonderful and feature some strong moments of joy, pain and love from those close to him.

The editing is top notch, it is expertly put together and really does his story justice.Incorporating Marley's early music and his later tracks too, seeing where he was born and how he came into music was very interesting and really involved you from the beginning. We see how Bob Marley was a political force and we are also given an intimate look at his home life too. We see that he wasn't perfect.

If you love Bob Marley then there is no other film you have to see to really get the full story. It is clearly a film made with love and admiration for Bob's work, you will laugh and cry at this film and be left with a sense of admiration and appreciation.

The Blu Ray is great. The new interview footage is sharp, the music is crisp and the old footage of Bob in concert is beautiful. They have done a great job with the restoration of the clips of Bob doing interviews and the footage of the events that are described.

Bob Marley's legacy will never end and this documentary does justice to the man we all love.

Mind blowing.

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I've recently been to Jamaica and Bob Marley's music could be heard everywhere. So when I came home I decided to look into the life of this man, whose songs are instantly recognised by millions of people around the world.

You don't have to be a die-hard Bob Marley fan to enjoy this film, as the story of the mixed-race man who became a music legend will grip you right from the start - from Robert Nesta's humble beginning in Nine Mile, to his rise to stardom until his premature death to cancer in Miami. The story is told by many people who knew him, with the occasional audio and video clip in which you can hear the man himself talking about his philosophy, his attitude on marriage, his hopes for mankind to one day live harmoniously together. The narration is interspersed with snippets history of Jamaica, newsreel from the time and, of course, footage of live performances. It certainly helped me understand who Bob Marley was - a deeply spiritual man who, in many ways, was ahead of his time.

Really interesting documentary including several extras if you are left wanting to know more.

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